Look what a lot attendant did to our boat

[Reed Sirinek]

Had already completed the purchase and went for final sea trial to test a few small repairs. When this occurred launching or loading the boat from a trailer. Enjoy the carnage. This repair was made early spring 2022 and used boat all of the 22 season. Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?

Surveyor and Marina said it was totally repairable, some friends freaked out and said dont buy it (but it was already bought). We figured our options were a lawsuit or repair it. Not sure though. Any one have a similar experience?

 

[Skybolt]

Can't really tell how the repair went, but from those pictures it doesn't look like the glass was reapplied correctly. I don't see a wide enough spread for the damage encored. Personally, unless there was a substantial credit, I would have walked away from this. But that's just me, and I can do these repairs myself.

Based on what I see there this will potentially crack and you will have a leak that may be undetectable or not. Can't really tell from those pic's.

 

[Stee6043]

I surely hope one (or more) insurance companies became involved when the damage happened?

 

[Lazy Daze]

The pics show damage and repair but I'm not sure which is the most recent. Can you better clarify?

It's all repairable, though. Done right, it will be permanent. It's an easier repair, though, since it doesn't have to be pretty because of the bottom paint.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

I'm not quite clear on the timeline. Are you saying that the boat purchase transaction was completed earlier this year and during that transaction the boat was damaged while being trailered? I note that the repair was completed spring 22 (assuming at your cost), but has the repair held to date or has it now failed? If it appears to be ok now, did you get some kind of warranty from the repair outfit in case their repair was not done properly and fails in the future?
The damage does not appear to be structural and once repaired is undetectable if done correctly. Not sure what the green material is that was applied, but if it's just thick gelcoat without any glass underlay it may not hold up long term. However, one of the pics appears to show that the gaping hole had indeed been layered with additional glass and sanded down before the final "green" material was applied. You should be ok.

 

[becnme]

To add to what SKybolt said I hope they started with fiberglass mat in increasing sizes and did not just fill it with the chopped glass filler you see in the pictures. Since it looks in the picture like it was not ground out far enough I doubt it. I don't like to see filler over bottom paint. If not grind it out, flare it properly and redo. This is not a tough repair to do correctly and have it last for the life of the boat.

 

[Reed Sirinek]

I surely hope one (or more) insurance companies became involved when the damage happened?

We inquired with them, but the marina covered all costs. Just

I'm not quite clear on the timeline. Are you saying that the boat purchase transaction was completed earlier this year and during that transaction the boat was damaged while being trailered? I note that the repair was completed spring 22 (assuming at your cost), but has the repair held to date or has it now failed? If it appears to be ok now, did you get some kind of warranty from the repair outfit in case their repair was not done properly and fails in the future?
The damage does not appear to be structural and once repaired is undetectable if done correctly. Not sure what the blue material is that was applied, but if it's just thick gelcoat without any glass underlay it may not hold up long term.

Brokerage deal was closed in Dec 21. Damage occurred afterwards in April 22. (Boat was kept in the Marina's remaining paid winter storage). Damage from the Marina attendant that launched the boat. Damage must have been from having the trailer not deep enough or missing the bunks. Marina paid for all repairs.

 

[Reed Sirinek]

To add to what SKybolt said I hope they started with fiberglass mat in increasing sizes and did not just fill it with the chopped glass filler you see in the pictures. Since it looks in the picture like it was not ground out far enough I doubt it. I don't like to see filler over bottom paint. If not grind it out, flare it properly and redo. This is not a tough repair to do correctly and have it last for the life of the boat.

Can you tell what the gray repair material vs. the green?

 

[Mig22]

Those repair pictures are questionable - looks like you had a hole below the water line that was patched with fairing material? At the least it needs new fiberglass glass mat layered inside and outside. A solid repair would consist of new glass mat that is also tappered into the old at least 6inches + outward of the hole so that it is structural stable and sound. Once the glass work is done then fairing material is used for final shaping, epoxy can be used to fill pin holes then gel coat, next epoxy coating like interlux then bottom paint.

 

[techmitch]

Had already completed the purchase and went for final sea trial to test a few small repairs. When this occurred launching or loading the boat from a trailer. Enjoy the carnage. This repair was made early spring 2022 and used boat all of the 22 season. Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?

Surveyor and Marina said it was totally repairable, some friends freaked out and said dont buy it (but it was already bought). We figured our options were a lawsuit or repair it. Not sure though. Any one have a similar experience?

Although I would probably agree with what was posted above that it can easily be repaired correctly. Not knowing for sure how exactly the damaged happened, i.e. was it just scraped or was it also dropped, I have a question.
Who's surveyor, the marinas or a third party surveyor hired by you.

 

[scoflaw]

Ask your questions to the company that did the work, also find out how repudiable they are.

 

[Skybolt]

Just to add to the above I would absolutely get it re-done bay a qualified fiberglass person that know what they are doing. You could do this yourself but if you haven't done this before it's not possible to fare and lay in the glass just right to get an adequate seal and be water proof over time. If you didn't go through insurance it is most likely to late since a repair was done already.

Just to be clear, no "bondo" should ever be used on a boat. Only something like formula 27 for light scratches, but resin and west 404 with glass strands added would be best and that should never be structural. That repair needs to be over glassed and ground down and sanded, then possibly filled and faired out and be ready for gelcoat. That's if you want it to last and be water proof.

 

[mrsrobinson]

This is a bit of a difficult thread to follow. You closed on the boat, later at spring launch the marina damaged the bottom, then they repaired it (the pics), correct? Now you are asking us "Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?"

I guess I am asking myself why are you asking us 7 months later, post repair "Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?"? I am not being a jerk, or sarcastic, wondering what triggered you to ask, now? Months after the fact, and you accepted the repair?

Regarding the repair, it was not done properly IMO - I agree with the others.

 

[Reed Sirinek]

This is a bit of a difficult thread to follow. You closed on the boat, later at spring launch the marina damaged the bottom, then they repaired it (the pics), correct? Now you are asking us "Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?"

I guess I am asking myself why are you asking us 7 months later, post repair "Any advice to follow up on this repair this year?"? I am not being a jerk, or sarcastic, wondering what triggered you to ask, now? Months after the fact, and you accepted the repair?

Regarding the repair, it was not done properly IMO - I agree with the others.

You understand perfectly, no offense taken. I re-hired my surveyor to make sure the repair was done right, but looks like I didnt get my moneys worth. Who know if they gave me all the photos. I'm probably screwed. Thanks everyone.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Well, you did not hear me say this: it's painted/kind of hidden, maybe a great surveyor would find it - sell. Then again if it's not leaking and you love the boat...

I kept my last boat in a boatel, forklifted in/out of the water for me. Spotlight was on top of the radar arch. I showed up one day to go out, boat was already in the water, with a brand new, better than before spotlight. When I asked what happened they said they broke the previous one on the steel beam above the boat in the boatel so they got me a new one. Made me happy as the old one was ugly and did not work. I wondered if they would have told me had I not asked. The marina earned a few points that day.

 

[Fill Ess]

It could be worse. One of our lot attendants took out a customer's boat and crashed it.

 

[sbw1]

I agree with those who said the repair is suspect. Based upon the size of the damage and its depth, there should be more layers of glass cloth and they should extend out further from the damages area. This looks like a quick and dirty job that will come back to bite you at some point. It will likely fail.

 

[Fill Ess]

I agree with those who said the repair is suspect. Based upon the size of the damage and its depth, there should be more layers of glass cloth and they should extend out further from the damages area. This looks like a quick and dirty job that will come back to bite you at some point. It will likely fail.

I think that's the case. They will do the fastest/cheapest job possible to keep you from suing them.

Too bad you couldn't have gotten in repaired by a pro (elsewhere) and sent them the bill.

 

[Nater Potater]

Well, you did not hear me say this: it's painted/kind of hidden, maybe a great surveyor would find it - sell. Then again if it's not leaking and you love the boat...

That's just it. If you like the boat, keep your eye on it for signs of cracking and/or leaks (assuming under the front berth?). However, for peace of mind and you feel you can justify the cost, get it done correctly. I'd be willing to bet you could reach up there with an ice pick or pocket knife and pop big chunks out of the "repair". That's not that big of job, but, as others have noted, it needs to be faired-out properly to carry the load. That spot takes a pretty good pounding in a boat's lifetime. You don't want to scrimp on the 'glass there.

 

[paulswagelock]

If it was me, and I liked the boat, I would have it redone this winter during layup. Grind out the bondo (looks like that is all they did), have it fixed correctly, repaint, and love the boat for years to come with no nagging feeling that this is the year you find water intrusion in the hull.